Cap applying apparatus



Aug. 2, 1960 H. H. FRANZ ETAL CAP APPLYING APPARATUS Filed July 24, 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet l FIG.

INVENTORS Henry ht Franz Lee 0. Pierce ZWV ATTORNEY 5 H. H. FRANZ ETAL 2,947,128

CAP APPLYING APPARATUS Filed July 24, 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Henry h. Franz Lee D. Pierce ATTORNEY Aug. 2, 1960 H. H. FRANZ ETAL 2,947,123

CAP APPLYING APPARATUS Filed July 24, 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS Henry H Franz Lee [7. Pierce ATTORNEY 1960 H. H. FRANZ ETAL 2,947,128

CAP APPLYING APPARATUS Filed July 24, 1958 6 SheetsSheet 4 INVENTORS Henry H. Franz Lee D. Pierce ATT RNEY Aug. 2, 1960 Filed July 24, 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 l 97 I 9. y I I f 95 L) I 90 a? as l 22 J 1 "'1 89 2| I 1s -26- 24 I 27 34 85 I #60 28 2 9-s|- -2s- -83- I c --so---L U 755-% 3' I I e? s? a F/G 6 INVENTORS Henry H Franz Lee 0. Pierce ATTORNEY Filed July 24, 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTORS Henry Ii Franz Lee D. Pierce AT ORNEY :member shown in Figure 9.

States Patent fiice 2,947,128 Fatented Aug. 2, 1 960 2,947,128 I CAP APPLYING APPARATUS Henry H. Franz, Baltimore, Md., and Lee D. Pierce,

Fulton, N.Y., assignors to Sealright-Oswego Falls Corporatlon, Fulton, N.Y., a corporation of New Y ork- Filed July 24, 1958, Ser. No. 750,627

I 6 Claims. (Cl. 53-31tl) This invention relates to bottle capping apparatus, and more'particularly to apparatus for applying caps to bottles, such as milk bottles, as the same are advanced from the bottle filling machine.

Cap applying apparatus of this type is generally referred to as a capper head. Usually, the heads are arranged in a circular series mounted on an auxiliary portion of thebottle filling machine, and each head is provided with a vertical magazine to receive a supply of caps in stack formation. Theheads are actuated to separate the lowermost cap in the stack, transfer the cap to a capping throat, and apply the cap to the bottle top, the bottle being moved into axial registration with the throat and moved upwardly for engagement with the head, and the head is actuated by the upward movement of the bottle.

The capping apparatus of our invention is directed particularly for the application of caps formed of plastic material of the type shown in the copending application of I; L. Wilcox, filed March 14, 1957, Ser. No. 646,086, now US. Patent No. 2,869,746.

The invention has as an object capping apparatus'of the type referredto embodying a particularly, durable structural arrangement operable over long periodsof paratus embodying our invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view showing the apparatus in normal position.

' Figure 3 is a view, similar to Figure 2, showing the apparatus elevated by a bottle for the application of a cap thereto.

Figure 4 is a topplan view. Figure 5 is a bottom planrview.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 6-6 u Figure t. a a

Figure 7 is a partial sectional'viewf taken through the base portion of the apparatus on' line 7,7, Figure 5.

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view taken through the lower end portion of the cap transfer yoke, as indicated by line 8- -8, Figure2, but with the jyokeswung forwardly to position the end of the capiseparating knife to a point located approximately at the center ofthe cap magazineto illustrate the separation ofthe lowermost Figure {9 is'asideelevational view of one of the cap separatingmembers attached to the supporting yoke.

Figure 10 is a partial'top plan of the cap separating The capping apparatus consists of. a base member 20 formed .with an upwardly extending tubular portion 21 mounted for vertical sliding movement in a fixed support 22. The support is formed with upper and lower diametrically extending lugs 23 which are fixedly secured to the machine proper. The key 24 is fixed to the tubular portion 21 to prevent rotative movement between the base of the capping head and the support 22.

The base isformed with forwardly extending spaced apart leg portions 25, to the upper surface of which is aflixed a tubularmagazine 26, as bycap screws 27, the leg portions 25 being formed with a vertical bore form ing a continuation of the magazine 26, see Figure 6. The leg portions 25 have depending walls 28 and lower curved surfaces 29 positioned outwardly of the walls 28, see

Figure l. "The forward end portions of the walls 28 are. joined by a transversely extending rib portion 30.

A platform 31 is secured to the under side of the base, as by cap screws 32 threading into the rear portion of the base, and by cap screws 33 extending through forwardly extending leg portions 34 of the platform and threading into the wall portions 28 of the base, see Figure 5. With this arrangement, the platform is provided with a slot 35 extending lengthwise of the platform toward a circular aperture 36 forming a capping throat. The lower portion of the aperture 36 is counterbored, as at 37, to receive the finish at the top of the bottle B, and the base 20 is formed with a circular recess 39 forming a continuation of the aperture 36, see Figure 6.

The caps C are shipped in stack formation in paperboard tubes. The tube at the lower end of the stack is opened, and the tube inserted in the upper portion of the magazine 26, whereby several hundred caps are made available in nested stack form for application by the capper head. The caps are formed of thin, plastic material and have "a slightly tapered skirt portion 46 which permits nesting of the caps, and at the lower edge ofthe cap skirt 40 there is a radially extending flange 41,'see Figure 11. I

The caps are successively separated from the stack for mation and moved into the cappin'gthroat 36 by an oscillating, or swinging, member in the form of a U- sh aped yoke, the free ends of the leg portions 42 of which are pivotally mounted on studs 44, 45,-threaded into bosses 46 formed on diametrically opposite sidesof the upper end portion of the magazine 26. The bottom or central portion 48 of the yoke, see Figure 1, is positioned for'movement beneath the leg portions 34 of the cap platform. A torsion spring 49 mounted on the studs 45 yieldingly urges the yoke rearwardly to the position shown in Figure 2.

There is aflixed to the inner side of each of the legs 42 of the yoke, a cap separating member. These members are best shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10. They consist of a main body having a forward portion 53 formed with threaded apertures 54 to receive cap screws 55 for securing them to the yoke legs 42. These body portions have a rearwardly and upwardly extending portion 55 and having approximately one-half the width of the thickness of the forwardly 'body portion 53. The upper or top surfaces 56, 57, of the portions 53, 55', are curved on a radius substantially from the yoke pivots 44, 45-, however, the radius on which, the surface 57 is formed is slightly less than the radius on which the surface 56 is formed.

There is aflixed to the rearward portions 55', asv by rivets 58, a knife blade 59. The forward end of the knife blade is formed with a knife edge 60 forming ,a continuation'of the curve surface 57 and terminating upwardly a slight distance from the curve surface 56.

With the yoke in normal position shown in Figure 2, v

tioned below the mechanism and support the stack of caps therein. The bore 60 formed in' the base member and constituting a continuation of the magazine 26, breaks throughthe depending side walls 28 to form openings 61 through which diametrically opposite sides of the several lowermost capsfuin' the stacks extend for engagement'by the cap separating members, see "Figures 1 and 6. The spacing of the cap separating members is such that diametrically the closed sides of the cap flanges 41 rest upon the inner marginal portions of the surface 56. These inner portions being inclined downwardly toward the axes of the caps, as indicated at 63, Figure 8. As the yoke is moved forwardly, the knife edges 60 pass'above the flanges 41 of the lowermost cap, causing the cap flanges to move downwardly on the inclined "shoulder 56 of the forward portions 53 of the separating members. During this movement, the cap above the lowermost cap is supported by the knife blade and by the. arcuate surface 57 formed on the rear portion of the separator body. Upon movement of the yoke member to its forward position, shown in Figure 3, the lowermost cap is thus deposited onto the cap platform. A cap pusher 66 is fixed to the lower central portion of the yoke, as by'screws 67, this pusher being movable in the slot 35 extending between the legs 34 of the platform. Upon rearward movement of the yoke to the position shown in Figure 6, a separated cap is pushe along the platform into the capping throat 36.

Cap positioning members 68 are secured to the outer surface of each of the platform legs 34, as by screws 70, and inwardly from the positioning member 68 there are centering members 71 also affixed to the platform legs 34, as by screws 72. On opposite sides of the throat bore 36, the platform 31 is recessed and the base member 20 is formed with comparable recesses to slidably receive cap retaining members 74. The inner ends of these members are formed with notches 75 to receive the flanges '41 of the caps C. These retaining members are yieldingly urged inwardly by compression springs 76, see Figure 7, actingragainst pins 77 positioned in the base and platform, the retaining members being formed with enlarged apertures 73 to permit movement of the mem: hers radially of the cap throat. Each ofthe members 74 is formed with a surface 80 arranged above the cap flange receiving notch and inclining downwardly toward the axis of the throat. Each of these members is also formed with a surface 81 positioned below the cap flange receiving notch and inclining upwardly toward the axis of the throat. When the cap is transferred to the throat by the pusher 66, the retainer members 74 are positioned inwardly, as shown in Figure 7, for the reception of the cap flange, and these members serve-to accurately position the cap centrally of the capping throat. The caps positioned in the. capping throat are .applied to the tops of the bottles by a cup-shaped cap applying member 83 having a stem positioned in a sleeve 84, and being fixed thereto by a hollow pin 85, see Figure 6. :T he sleevefid is slidably mounted in the tubular extension 21 of the base. As previously explained, the supportim member 22 is fixed to the frame of the machine against movement. This support member is apertured to receive a diametrically disposed pin 87 which also extends through an elongated slot 88 formedin the sleeve 84 and through an elongated slot 89 of greater length formed in the tubular extension 21, and the pin 07 extends through a hole in a stem 90 having an upwardly extending shank .91, threaded at its upper end, to receive an adjusting nut 93, securing in place a washer 94. A washer 95 is positioned at the top-of the sleeve 84 and also engages a shoulder flfiformed on the stem 90. A compression spring 97 is interposed betweenthe washers 94, 95. With this arrangement, the sleeve 84 is normally maintained in theposition shown .in Figure 6, that is, with the top of slot 88 engaging the fixed pin 87. By the weight of the capper head, the tubular extension 21 is also in the 4 down position shown in Figure 6, with the top of the slot 89 engaging the fixed pin 87.

As the bottle B is moved upwardly, the finish ring 100 enters the counterbore 37 of the platform 31, and etfects upward movement of the base 20, this upward movement continuing until the bottom of the slot 83 engages the fixed pin 87. At this point, the top of the bottle has cammed apart the cap retaining members 74, and has partially entered the cap skirt. With continued upward movement of the bottle, the cap is moved upwardly, so that the flange 41 is in closed proximity to the lower edge of the cup member 83. Further upward movement of the bottle moves the cap into engagement with the applying member 83 and moves the latter upwardly against the action of spring 97, the spring exerting suflicient pressure on the applying member 83 to apply and form the skirt of the cap about the head at the top of the bottle. The slot 89 is of sufficient length to permit proper functioning of the cap applying member.

During upward movement of the base member 20 and accordingly the magazine 26, the yoke member is moved upwardly, and the upper rear portions of the yoke legs 42 are formed With cam surfaces 101 which, upon upward movement of the yoke, engages rollers 102 journalled on the upper portion of the support 22, see Figures 2 and 3. The cam surface 101 inclines downwardly and rearwardlyfrom the pivots 44, 45, whereby, upon movement of the capper head upwardly, the yoke is caused to swing forwardly to separate the lowermost cap in the magazine and deposit the same on the platform 31 for application to the next bottle.

Upon downward movement ofthe capped bottle and accordingly, the downward movement of the caphead, the yoke would be urged in a rearward direction toward the capping throat by the torsion spring 49. Such movement might efiect engagement of the separated cap by the capped bottle before the bottle was lowered out of the capping throat. This due to back lash etc., in the filling and capping machine proper and to the vertical adjustment of the capper head in changing its position because of bottles of different capacities. Means is provided'to prevent the occurrence of such a situation. A latch member 105 is pivotally mounted to a bracket 106 secured to the upper portion of the magazine 26, as by screw 107. The under side of the latch 105 is formed intermediate its ends with a shoulder 108. The latch is urged downwardly by spring 109 whereby, when the head is in elevated position, Figure 3, the shoulder 108 is positioned for engagement by a key 110 fixed to the upper end of one of the yoke legs 42, see Figures 2 and '3. Accordingly, upon downward movement of the capper head, the key 110 engages the shoulder 108, preventing clockwise movement of the yoke, Figures 2 and 3.

When the top of the cappedbottle has moved downwardly below the cap guiding surface of the platform '31, a stop screw 11?. carried by the free end of the latch engages an angle plate 113 fixedly secured to the support 22, as by screws 114. Further'downward movement ofv the capper head thuseifects movement of the shoulder 108 out'of engagement with the key 110, permitting the yoke to swing rearwardly under the influence of spring 49 to move the separated cap into the capping throat. This arrangement providesmeans carried by the capper head for retarding rearward movement of the cap transfer yokeuntil after the bottle tophas cleared from the capping throat, thus assuring there will be no jamming in the operation of the device.

1. Apparatus for applying caps to bottle tops including a base, a cap magazine vertically mounted-on said-base for receiving a stack of nestedcaps having radial flanges vertically spaced from each other, said base having a vertical capping throat spaced laterally from said magazine, a platform extending forwardly from said throat below said magazine and being formed with an open bottomed slot extending inwardly from its forward edge toward said throat, a vertically disposed yoke member pivotally connected at its ends to said magazine with the center part of said yoke positioned below said platform for swinging movement toward and from said throat, a cap separating means secured to said yoke and being operable upon movement of said yoke forwardly from said throat to separate the lowermost cap from the stack in said magazine for descent to said platform, a cap pusher attached to and carried by the center part of said yoke and being positioned in the slot in said platform, said pusher being operable upon rearward movement of said yoke towards said throat to move a separated cap on said platform into said throat, and means operable upon upward movement of a bottle having its top positioned in said throat to apply 'the cap in said throat to the bottle top and swing said yoke about its pivotal mounting forwardly away from said throat and upon downward movement of the bottle to move said yoke towards said throat.

2. Apparatus for applying caps to bottle tops including a base, a cap magazine for receiving a stack of nested caps having radial flanges vertically spaced from each other, said base having a vertical capping throat spaced laterally from the magazine, a platform extending forwardly from said throat below said magazine, a vertically disposed yoke member pivotally connected at its upper ends to said magazine, a pair of cap separating members fixed to the legs of said yoke for movement between the lower end of said magazine and said platform, said cap separating members having portions extending forwardly and rearwardly from said yoke legs for supporting the stack of caps in said magazine, said separating members also having knife edges intermediate said forward and rear portions and inclining downwardly and rearwardly for entering between the flanges of the lowermost cap and the next lowermost cap in said stack to separate and deposit said lowermost cap on said platform upon forward movement of said yoke, a cap pusher attached to and carried by said yoke and operable upon rearward movement of the yoke towards said capping throat to move the separated cap on said platform into said throat, means operable upon upward movement of a bottle having its top positioned in said throat to apply the cap in said throat to the bottle top, and to move said yoke about its pivotal mounting forwardly from said throat and upon downward movement of the bottle to move said yoke toward said throat.-

3. Apparatus for applying caps to bottle tops including a base, a cap magazine vertically mounted on said base for receiving a stack of nested caps having radial flanges vertically spaced from each other, said base having avertical capping throat spaced laterally from said magazine, a platform extending forwardly'from' said throat below said magazine, a vertically disposed, onepiece, U-shaped yoke pivotally connected at its upper ends to said magazine, said yoke having a pair of cap separating members and a cap pusher positioned between the lower end of said magazine and said platform, said cap separating members being operable upon forward movement of said yoke about its pivotal mounting to separate the lowermost cap in the stack and deposit the same on said platform, said cap pusher being operable upon rearward movement of said yoke to slide said separated cap along said platform into said throat, means operable upon upward movement of the bottle having its top positioned in said throat to apply the cap in said throat to the bottle top and to efiect movement of said yoke about its pivotal mounting forwardly from said throat and upon downward movement of the bottle to move said yoke toward said throat.

4. Apparatus for applying caps to bottle tops including a stationary support, a base mounted for vertical sliding movement in said support, a vertically arranged cap magazine mounted on said base for receiving a stack of nested caps having radial flanges vertically spaced from each other, said base being also provided with a vertical capping throat spaced laterally from said magazine, a platform extending forwardly from said throat below said magazine, a vertically disposed, one piece U-shaped yoke member positioned in straddling relation to said magazine and being pivotally attached thereto at its upper ends, said yokehaving a pair of cap separating members and a cap pusher movable between the lower end of said magazine and said platform, said cap separating members being cooperable with the cap flanges upon forward movement of said yoke from said throat to separate the lowermost cap in the stack and deposit the same on said platform, and said pusher being operable upon rearward movement of said yoke to move said cap along said platform and into said throat, said yoke and support having coacting portions operable upon upward movement of said base to move said yoke forwardly, means operable upon downward movement of said base to move said yoke rearwardly, a cap applying member mounted in said throat and operable upon up- Ward movement of said base to apply a cap positioned in said throat to the top of a bottle positioned in said throat.

5. Apparatus for applying caps to bottle tops including a stationary support, a base mounted for vertical sliding movement in said support, a vertically arranged cap magazine mounted on said base for receiving a stack of nested caps having radial flanges vertically spaced from each other, said base being also provided with a vertical capping throat spaced laterally from said magazine, a platform extending forwardly of said throat below said magazine, a vertically disposed, one-piece, U-shaped yoke member positioned in straddling relation to said magazine and being pivotally attached'thereto at its upper ends, said yoke having a pair of cap separating members and a cap pusher movable lengthwise of said platform between the lower end of the magazine and the platform, said cap separating members being cooperable with the cap flanges upon forward movement of said yoke from said throat to separate the lowermost cap in the stack and deposit the same on said platform, said pusher being operable upon rearward movement of said yoke to move said cap along said platform and into said throat, said yoke and support having coacting portions operable upon upward movement of said base to move said yoke forwardly, latch means carried by said magazine and operable to latch said yoke in forward position, said latch means being releasable upon substantially complete downward movement of said base, and means operable to eifect rearward movement of said yoke towards said throat upon release of said latch.

6. Cap applying apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein adjustable means is provided for releasing said latch.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

